THE REAL ROALD AMUNDSEN.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1421, 23 April 1912, Page 5

THE REAL ROALD AMUNDSEN.

HOW HE LOOKS-AND TALKS. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) Auckland, April 22. Captain Koald Amundsen, arrived in Auckland from Sydney by. the Maheno yesterday. In appearance ho scarcely realises the popular idea of an explorer. Lithe and sinewy in figure, he does not suggest any reservo power of exceptional physical endurance. His stay in tlie Dominion will bs very brief, for ho is obliged to leavo by tho Keinuera for Buenos Ayres. In tlie courso of conversation with an Auckland pressman the topic naturally veered round to the recent Polar clash. "Yes, but there is not much that I can say," said the captain, his benevolentlooking features meanwhile lighting with that slow smile of his. One wonders how much of mental reservation there lies bohind it. The first impression which one gathors upon meetiug tho explorer is onealmost of astonishment. Where is the fierce-eyed, hard-bitten, brawny-limbed conqueror of Nature's most hostile fortress? The famous Norwegian, though fairly broad of shoulder, and Well set up' enough, conveys a sense of almost well-to-do benevolence—a man of about middle age, blessed with pretty robust health, and indulging a quiet desire, to travel round places and seo things comfortably. It is only it'hen One more closely inspects him, and notices the occasional glint' in the plain blue eyes that ono suspects Captain Amundsen in tourist tweeds and Captain Amundsen in Polar furs to be two personalities, both kindly by nature and interesting, but difficult to recognise, in casual glances, as the ono and indivisablo same. Although tho explorer, modestly denies having much to spy, the thaw of conversation releases 'sufficient to arouse a distinct feeling of enmity for the clock ontho part of his listener. Tho superiority of dogs and of skis for Polar exploration work was broached.

"Ah, yes," ho declares involuntarily, "there can be no question about the value of dogs. I cannot understand anyone choosing horses in preference. They are so light; they do not sink into tho soft snow, and they require comparatively little to eat. Their energy, . too, is exhaustless. We could not keep up with our dogs—-they were so willing. You see theimmenso value in being able to conserve allyour energy instead of having to use it in- hauling sledges. You surmount difficulties that, to worn-out men, seem unsurmountable, and your spirits remain buoyant. That is a very great thing down in tho Antarctic, you know," and ho Bmil-, ed Teminiscently. "Yes, and tho skis! With thorn you can cross crevasses with impunity where men in heavy boots would labour with danger.AH Polar explorers should be expert ski-men. In Norway-we put skis on our horses in tho winter) and it is astonishing how quickly they become used to them. I notice that the leading ponies wore skis in Captain Scott's expedition, and I think they should have all worn them."

thereafter the captain declined to bt led on to _ further discussion of tho British expedition beyond expressing; the conviction that Captain Seott would have no Difficulty in reaching the Pole. What about the awful silences of the Antarctic, which aro said to affect ono's »leop? Ho smiled again. "Silence, yes, but I love it. I am used to it. I cannot imagine how it could prevent one from sleeping. I think, indeed, it is what tou call exaggeration. ■ ■ * °

In speakin? of the two rontes-the one ho chose and that by way of the Beardmore Glacier taken by Cantain Scott—the Norwegian discoverer was reticent in making comparisons. "When lam in Christchurch I shall talk tho routes over with t !f„ TT v« of.Captom Scott's expedition, but if tho time occupied in climbing Hie Beardmore Glacier proves to be what I have been told, I begin to wonder ii hTw. 1 ?n« h ? "T ro " te - Wo wero f <"-- ™£ w t meetm s W\™S (feat blizzard, but I suspect that our dogs and knowledge of using skis had much to d" Sbtet? C mSs Pr ° SrCSSM Which ™ "«« Captain Amundsen lectured on his four ney to the South Pole to a great audi" ence m the Town Hall to-night Tho explorer had a most enthusiastic reception ml of the country and tho city of An k-